Ethical/financial pet question

[FCollinsBuckeye]

**cat haters move on, please - there's nothing to see here** :p

So our 12 year old cat is sick - very sick, it seems. We took her to the emergency vet hospital on Wednesday due to lethergy, loss of appetite and labored breathing. We left her overnight for some diagnosic testing and monitoring. The did a chest radiograph and ruled out pnemonia, a leukemia test which ruled that out, and some blood work that indicated she's having liver problems. They put her on an i.v. for dehydration and gave her antibiotics and had her in an 'oxygen cage' over night. The additional test they recommended was an abdominal ultrasound, which we declined since we were getting up into the upper 3 figures on the bill. We brought her home on Thursday evening and have tried feeding her (very difficult) and administering her oral antibiotic (slightly less difficult).

My question is this: how much is too much to spend on a 12 y.o. cat? We've dropped a little over 8 bills thus far, and really don't know a hell of a lot. The additional test, which may or may not shed much more light is over $200. The wife seemed very business like on Thursday evening when they gave us the low/high estimates (basically $800 - $1200) and thought there's no way we should spend that. Last night however, she got very emotional and now I'm not sure what to do. I like the cat and all, but seriously - how much should we spend to try and halp a 12 y.o. cat?

**I'm sure the cat haters will have smart ass answers aplenty** :p

 

[exhawg]

I like cats and I would have cut off the spending long ago. If it's 12 and sick enough to go to the vet it's time to send it to the farm.

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

More catnip.

To tell the truth, I wouldn't spend a lot more money on the cat if it were me. (And I'd say that if it were one of my dogs too)

 

[starBUCKS]

Have the Vets given any indication to what they feel the problem may be? And how costly it would be to treat it?

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

You live near a river?

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

**cat haters move on, please - there's nothing to see here** :p

So our 12 year old cat is sick - very sick, it seems. We took her to the emergency vet hospital on Wednesday due to lethergy, loss of appetite and labored breathing. We left her overnight for some diagnosic testing and monitoring. The did a chest radiograph and ruled out pnemonia, a leukemia test which ruled that out, and some blood work that indicated she's having liver problems. They put her on an i.v. for dehydration and gave her antibiotics and had her in an 'oxygen cage' over night. The additional test they recommended was an abdominal ultrasound, which we declined since we were getting up into the upper 3 figures on the bill. We brought her home on Thursday evening and have tried feeding her (very difficult) and administering her oral antibiotic (slightly less difficult).

My question is this: how much is too much to spend on a 12 y.o. cat? We've dropped a little over 8 bills thus far, and really don't know a hell of a lot. The additional test, which may or may not shed much more light is over $200. The wife seemed very business like on Thursday evening when they gave us the low/high estimates (basically $800 - $1200) and thought there's no way we should spend that. Last night however, she got very emotional and now I'm not sure what to do. I like the cat and all, but seriously - how much should we spend to try and halp a 12 y.o. cat?

**I'm sure the cat haters will have smart ass answers aplenty** :p

Fuckin' cats. Kill it and eat it.



Yikes. Lots of gray areas there. I'd probably tell somebody else to have her (the cat, not the wife :p) put down, but if it was our cat needing the test and ensuing procedures, I'm not sure I could say no to it. I know it's cliche, but the little shits really are like kids for us.

Fuckin' kitties. Always breakin' your heart an' shit.

 

[OCBuckWife]

How much someone spends on an ailing, aging animal solely depends on their connection and emotional attachment to the animal I think.

A liver problem is going to be very painful and uncomfortable for the animal. It can also be an ongoing issue as well, constant medications and such. Weigh in how much you are comfortable with watching your cat struggle with pain as it ages.

My mother in-law has a 15 year old persian. It walks into walls, it can't control its bladder functions, it is obviously in pain as it walks stiff legged thru rooms, it can't be let out unsupervised as it wanders vaguely into the street. She can't afford to even take the poor thing to the vet. It is so obviously in pain and is suffering and yet she says "I can't put him down, I love him."

Love sometimes means letting go. IMHO.

 

[OSUsushichic]

Sorry to hear about your cat, FCB. You are certainly faced with a tough decision.

Here are a few questions to ask:

• What is your pet's general health and attitude?
• What is the quality of your pet's life?
• How much care does your pet require?
• Can you afford the costs involved?
• What is your pet's prognosis? (Will more tests, treatments or surgeries make your pet any better? Are there any negative side effects from such tests or treatments?)
• Are there any signs from the pet that he/she is ready to go? (Some pets have a way of telling us these things.)
• Sometimes people keep their pets alive in order to meet their own needs (to not feel guilty, to not let go) rather than to meet the needs of the pet. Hard as it may be, ask yourself if this could be going on with you.

If the cat is in obvious pain, I would probably put it down. Don't let your attachment get in the way of its suffering. Colorado State has excellent vet resources. If they cannot diagnose your cat, then that might help you make a decision.

 

[NJ-Buckeye]

My wife works at the town vet... I shutter to think what the ceiling would be that the wife would spend to save one of our pets... we've seen so many folks pay many many thousands to save their pets...

but be that what it may...

I have learned that once the liver is involved... you could be into unrecoverable territory... you could make things tolerable for a while... but add in the age and I think you're in for a very tough road... if the pet was younger, it could manage the strength to recover...

you're not going to get any better posts than those from Sushi when it concerns pets... she posts with her heart...

 

[FCollinsBuckeye]

Have the Vets given any indication to what they feel the problem may be? And how costly it would be to treat it?

They *think* they've narrowed it down to some liver problem or something like pancreaitis or a blocked gall bladder or something like that. It could also be cancer or something. It sounds like most of what they would learn w/ the abdominal ultrasound would be bad news, most of which wouldn't be particularly treatable.

You live near a river?

Actually, yes. :p

• What is your pet's general health and attitude?

Generally ok, but she's kinda bitchy. Which is typical.

• What is the quality of your pet's life?

Seems fine this morning. Was not at all happy about being 'force fed' or administered antibiotics though. If she doesn't start feeling better soon and eating on her own, we need to consider 'qulity of life issues', as the vet put it.

• How much care does your pet require?

Now, too much. If it's only for a week or so, we can handle it - but you can't constantly squirt food down your pet's throat.

• Can you afford the costs involved?

Well, yeah - but isn't $1k+ excessive?

• What is your pet's prognosis? (Will more tests, treatments or surgeries make your pet any better? Are there any negative side effects from such tests or treatments?)

We keep getting 'we won't know without more (costly) tests'. It sounds like if it's not a bacerial thing, the outlook it quite grim...

• Are there any signs from the pet that he/she is ready to go? (Some pets have a way of telling us these things.)

She keeps trying to go upstairs and hide in places she doesn't normally go...

• Sometimes people keep their pets alive in order to meet their own needs (to not feel guilty, to not let go) rather than to meet the needs of the pet. Hard as it may be, ask yourself if this could be going on with you.

Possibly, but honestly, I don't have a problem with putting her down.

P.S., we've been taking her to CSU's vet hospital

Okay, I gess I should shed a little more light. I don't mind putting her down - but I feel guilty knowing that with a larger investment, we might be able to help her squeeze a few more years out of life. Also, I don't want my wife to see me as a monster who was too cheap to save the cat. The wife has had the cat for 12 years - and we've been together 7+ years...

We've got her on antibiotics at home right now - we're gonna see how she is after work and take her back to the vet hospital tonghit if she's not 'noticibly' better. We'll have them keep her over the weekend to feed and administer her medication. That'll push us to the $1k mark total. I feel like an ass keeping tabs on the costs...but I can't help it. There's got to be a limit.

 

[elliemae]

My wife works at the town vet... I shutter to think what the ceiling would be that the wife would spend to save one of our pets... we've seen so many folks pay many many thousands to save their pets...

but be that what it may...

I have learned that once the liver is involved... you could be into unrecoverable territory... you could make things tolerable for a while... but add in the age and I think you're in for a very tough road... if the pet was younger, it could manage the strength to recover...

you're not going to get any better posts than those from Sushi when it concerns pets... she posts with her heart...

I agree 100%, with the liver involved it will get no better.
The cat is not extremely old but reaching aged I'll say. Usually once the liver is involved it is just prolonging life & perhaps bringing on suffering on the cats part.
My dog Oreo which had liver disease was dianosed early enough to go on a special diet & she did extremely well from September 2004 until March 2006 she lived til she was 18 years old. I had to take her for blood work every 4 months to keep an eye on things.
Her last month she was tested 2 times & that was basically it her numbers were off the wall,& I made up my mind to give her the weekend & until Wednesday & by then she quit eating & drinking on her own & it was time to let her go!:(
She slept on my chest those last 4 nights & only woke up to potty & that was it. Her breath was bad due to thye toxins from her kidneys but I dealt with her for her last weekend with me & spent every moment I could with her til her last moment of breath on 3/22/06 at 7:23 p.m.!

Note that a lot of people are not as fortunate as I was with Oreo & her liver disease,she was one that responded well & it worked well for 1 1/2 years.
Take care & I wish you well on your decision.

 

[osugrad21]

Jeffcat says:

 

[DOG]

I'd hit it.

 

[FCollinsBuckeye]

I'd hit it.

When healthy, our cat would fuck you up, DOG. You'd come away with a shredded cornea, at the least.

:p

 

[Taosman]

Many cats now days live 16-18 years. If it's a great cat and loved, you spend what you can afford.
If it's a pisser, maybe not so much effort/money. :tongue2:
But, it's also a quality of life issue.
If the treatment/results are going to make the cats life miserable, why do that?
I feel a great responsibility toward my "pets". I see them as family and will do what is appropriate.
I have a diabetic/blind dog, that takes lots of care. If he gets to the point where he is really struggling or suffering, I'll put him down. Same with the great cat we have. (Tilt)
Quality of life.